World Tapering Day 2023
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WORLD TAPERING DAY 2023: 4 November
SIGN
NOW!
World Tapering Org is launching a petition for new, more personalized tapering guidelines and easy access to low dosage tapering medication for people tapering psychotropic drugs - for free or at a very low cost. The petition emphasizes the urgent need for change: patients' rights can no longer be ignored. The petition will be presented to the World Health Organisation, representatives of Big Pharma and the media.
WHY DO WE NEED THIS PETITION?
Millions of people worldwide use antidepressants, sleeping medication, and other psychotropic medication. Coming off this type of medication must be done slowly, as withdrawal symptoms can be quite brutal.
But most medication is only available in dosages that are too large for slow and gradual lowering (tapering). This makes tapering needlessly hard, uncomfortable and creates unnecessary suffering.
After one or two failed attempts, many people are so scared of the withdrawal that they continue using the medication for years.
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A taper gone wrong can cause (sometimes irreversible) damage to a person’s physical and mental health. Sometimes this results in people taking their own lives. Some people taper successfully, but that does not go for everybody.
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The power of politics, industry and professional medicine makes it hard to hold any particular party responsible for this situation. None of the parties are interested in taking or sharing responsibility for solving this problem, because the solution will cost them money.
WORLD TAPERING DAY is about you
as a PATIENT
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World Tapering Day is about most doctors and psychiatrists not knowing how to help their patients taper psychotropic drugs safely.
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WTD is about not being warned by your doctor of the difficulties that might arise when you try to come off these drugs.
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World Tapering Day is about the stigma attached to no being able to stop taking antidepressants, sleeping pills or other addictive psychotropic drugs.
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World Tapering Day is about a bad situation that has been going on for decades. This situation depends for a great deal on patients being silent.
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​World Tapering Org is about the MEDIA​​​
To raise awareness and reach people who are relatively new to the subject of tapering psych meds, we need the media. We are counting on them to help us. After all - if one in fourpeople uses this medication, one in four people in the media must use it too.
Working towards
SAFE TAPERING
is
EVERYBODY'S
responsibility.
WORLD TAPERING DAY is about you
as a PRESCRIBER
To work towards change, we need doctors and prescribers, researchers and organisations that are willing to speak out. Patients need easy access to a wide range of low doses and liquid preparations to make tapering psychotropic medication easier. This will help them to taper more slowly and safely.
If you are a doctor or a prescriber and you support the need for change, we invite you to join us in speaking out and sing the petition.
WORLD TAPERING DAY is about
YOU
Approximately one in four people in Western countries uses antidepressants, benzodiazepines, mood stabilizers, anti-epileptics or antipsychotic drugs.
But what happens when you want to come off these drugs?
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Tapering medication in low dosages is often unavailable. Many people resort to chopping or filing their tablets down to create the proper dosage themselves because they have no alternative.
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Most GP's and psychiatrists don't have the knowledge or experience to guide their patients through their taper safely, sometimes creating dangerous situations.
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The problems surrounding
tapering psych meds
affect billions of people
worldwide
WORLD TAPERING DAY is about SPEAKING OUT!
WTD GOALS
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EVERYBODY currently using or being prescribed psychotropic drugs needs to be aware that, once you start, it can be extremely difficult to stop using them. Only then can people make an informed decision about starting on these meds.
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People need to be aware that the (relatively) fast tapers often recommended by psychiatrists and GPs can cause great harm.
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Psychiatrists and GP's need to acknowledge that tapering needs to be done hyperbolically, slowly and with special attention for people who have trouble tapering.
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The education that trainee psychiatrists and GPs receive on the subject of tapering medication is inadequate and outdated and needs to be revised urgently.
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Training should incorporate the latest insights and research on prescribing, using and tapering psychotropic meds.
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Psychiatrists and GP's need to step up and improve monitoring and guidance of patients using and/ or tapering psychotropic drugs.
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Low dosage tapering medication should be made available to everyone currently using psychotropic medication.
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The bill should be footed by those who have profited from the sale of these drugs.
PETITION for
New Tapering Guideline
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Recent research on slow, hyperbolic tapering must be incorporated into daily practice.
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Lived experience of tapering must be taken seriously and translated into new guidelines.
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Tapering medication in low dosages must be
made available worldwide at no cost to the patient.
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And much more...
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PLANS FOR WTD 2023
We are currently working on several plans surrounding the petition and World tapering Day. Sign up to our newsletter to get regular updates.
COOPERATION IS KEY
Last year, many medical professionals, organisations, researchers and people with lived experience gave their time, energy and loving support to help make WTD 2022 a succes. This year, many of them have endorsed our petitionand are helping us promote it.
For WTD 2023, we invite all organisations, big and small, to join us and support the petition!
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What
happens on
WTD 4 November
